Adjustable electric floor receptacle



Oct. 29, 1957 J. J. GUERRERO ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC FLOOR RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 9, 1954 vzi 3 2 l l. 7 2

INVENTOR Johr 1. Guerrero WMb ATTORNEYS United States Paten O ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC FLOOR RECEPTACLE John J. Guerrero, Los Alamos, N. Mex.

Application August 9, 1954, Serial No. 448,578

3 Claims. (Cl. 174-57) This invention relates to improvements in adjustable electric floor receptacles for telephone or other electric connections and constitutes an improvement on the structure disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 359,- 415, filed June 3, 1953.

The invention pertains particularly to adjustable floor receptacles having a telescopic portion which may be manually raised or lowered above or to the floor level and which when in raised position provides for electrical or telephonic connection. In my earlier application the receptacle comprised a fixed base portion within which was slidably engaged a cylindrical center portion carrying the electrical outlets. The center section was raised manually after a rotating, screw-threaded cap had been unscrewed from peripheral screw threads interiorly disposed about the internal surface of a raised shoulder disposed about the upper periphery of the base member.

In the present invention this structure has been modified to provide for a positive raising and lowering of the telescoping center portion of the receptacle by means of a rotatable screw centrally disposed within this portion of the receptacle. This elevating screw engages an internally screw-threaded cylindrical receptor member vertically disposed on the base of the structure, whereby upon rotation of the elevating screw the telescoping portion of the receptacle may be raised or lowered as desired and may be positively maintained in the desired raised or lowered position.

The vertical adjustable floor receptacle of the present invention is intended primarly for use in buildings of cast concrete construction but may be used in all types of building construction including wooden floor buildings. In constructing buildings by the modern concrete construction method it is customary to provide conduit members in the floors of the buildings, over which the concrete is poured to complete the floors. These conduits provide passages for electric wiring, telephone cables and thelike. Outlets through the concrete floor are provided at desired positions, suitable fixtures being mounted in the outlets to provide electric and telephone connections. Heretofore, these outlets have comprised an opening in the floor into the conduit through which wires may be drawn. Theyare usually provided with a coverplate which is maintained in place when the outlet is not in use. Electric. or telephone connections to such outlets can be made only by trained personnel and skilled labor is involved in connecting and disconnecting through such outlets.

' The present invention provides an adjustable floor receptacle which screws into a suitable opening in the conduit and is positively extensible or retractacle to adapt the receptacle to any thickness of floor. A central telescoping portion is provided having permanent electrical outlets or telephone jacks mounted about its periphery. This telescoping member is provided with a centrally disposed rotating screw which registers with an internally screw-threaded elevating screw base whereby upon rotation of the central screw the telescoping member may be "ice elevated or lowered to the desired height in the base and held by the screw positively in the desired position.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide such a telescoping receptacle for electrical or telephone outlets which may be positively raised or lowered by means of the rotation of a centrally disposed elevating screw and which may be positively held in the desired raised or lowered position by means of this screw.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a telescoping receptacle which may be retracted to a position flush with the level of the floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a telescoping receptacle which is readily adaptable to floors of any thickness and which may be raised above the level of such floor to provide a readily accessible electrical or telephonic connection therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a telescoping receptacle which may be easily and readily installed and which meets all the basic requirements of building codes and fire underwriters.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a partially broken away cross-sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention, showing the central telescoping cylinder thereof maintained in fully elevated position by the elevating screw;

Fig. 2 is a similar cross-sectional elevation of the structure showing the telescoping cylinder in fully lowered position and maintained in position flush with the surface of the floor by the elevating screw;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, taken from the lower extremity, of the elevating screw base member which is affixed within the adjustable base portion of the receptacle structure to receive the elevating screw.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, 5 indicates a metal conduit member which is suitably disposed beneath a concrete flooring 6 to provide a conduit for electrical and telephone wiring for the building. As shown, conduit 5' is suitably recesssed at 7 to receive a depending, externally screw-threaded nipple 8 which is provided centrally of the lower surface 9 of cylindrical base member 10. Cylindrical base 10, as shown, is provided about its upper, inner periphery with a series of screw threads 11 which are designed to register with a complementary series of screw threads 12 disposed about the lower, outer periphery of receptacle extension member 13.

Extension member 13 is preferably cylindrical in shape and makes a close, screw-threaded engagement with the interior surfaces of base member 10, its screw threads 12 engaging internal screw threads 11 of base 10 in such fashion that extension member 13 may be raised or lowered to the desired height in base 10. The lower wall 14 of extension member 13 is preferably provided at its center with a circular recess 15, which is vertically aligned with the recess of nipple 8 of base 10.

Afiixed to the upper surface of lower wall 14 of extension member 13 and disposed over and within recess 15 thereof is elevating screw base 17. Elevating screw base 17 is maintained in position in recess 15 by means of suitable screws 18 which pass through holes 19 in circular base plate 20 thereof. Fig. 3, elevating screw base 17 comprises a flattened circular base plate 20 provided with a circular central recess 21 about which extends a rectilinear shoulder 22 designed to fit closely within recess 15 of wall 14. Centrally disposed of recess 21 by means of wings 23 and 24 is cylindrical elevating screw receptor 25 which is narrowed at its upper extremity, as shown, and provided about its upper, inner periphery with screw threads 26 designed to register with the external screw threads 27 of Patented Oct. 29, 1957 As will be seen fromv elevating screw 28. Elevating screw receptor 25 is of cylindrical shape and is of enlarged diameter below its threaded upper extremity to allow free passage of elevatingscrew'za;

A suitable threaded lock ring 29 is provided about the outer periphery .of extension member 13 and registers with the external screw threads thereof to lock member 13 in desired position in base 10 after member 13 has been adjusted to the desired height within base 10. 1

Cylindrical telescoping member 30 is slidably disposed within extension member 13 and is provided about its lower perephery with annular shoulder 31, the outer, rectilinear surface 32 of which slidably engages the inner Wall of extension member 13. The uper, inner peripheral wall of member 13 is recessed at '33 and 34 to provide seating for circular gasket 35 and retaining ring 36 which, maintain telescoping cylinder 30 in proper position withinv extension member 13. Upward travel of telescoping cylinder 30 is stopped when its annular shoulder 31 impinges against gasket 35. Retaining ring 36 and gasket 35 further maintain the assembly watertight and in proper alignment.

The upper face of telescoping cylinder 30 is centrally recessed at 37 to permit flush and rotatable seating of slotted elevating screw head 38 which is appropriately aifixed to the upper extremity of elevating screw 28. Snap ring 39 is provided about shank 40 of elevating screw 28 to maintain the elevating screw head in proper rotatable position within recess 37.

Cylinder 30 is provided internally with a partial core of dielectric material 41 which is bored centrally and vertically at 42 to allow free passage of elevating screw 26 and screw receptor 25 therethrough.

Cylinder 30 is appropriately recessed about its outer periphery at various points to allow passage for the fingers of electrical plugs or telephone jacks, as desired, as shown in Fig. 1. Contacts 43 and 44 are provided appropriately afiixed to the dielectric core of cylinder 30, and aligned with the peripheral recesses in cylinder 30, appropriate electrical wiring 45 and 46 being lead thereto through the central'recess of nipple 8 and through the recesses of base plate 20 of elevating screw base 17. Telescoping cylinder 30 may be provided about its outer periphery with any desired number of recesses for the reception of electrical connectors of various types therein.

When it is desired to raise telescoping cylinder 30 above floor level to expose the electrical contacts elevating screw 28 is rotated counterclockwise through slotted head 38 by means of a screwdriver or coin until cylinder 30 has been elevated to the desired height. The reverse of this operation is followed to lower telescoping cylinder 30 into bracket 13 when not in use.

The structure is installed as follows: Electrical conduit having been installed in the building structure, nipple 8 of the receptacle structure is then screwed into recess 7 in conduit 5 until the lower surface of base thereof is flush with the conduit surface. Locking ring 29 is then loosened and extension member 13 is rotated until its upper surface is at the desired level above conduit 5 commensurate with the thickness of the concrete to be poured. Locking ring 29 is then tightened downwardly against the upper shoulder of base 10 to lock extension member 13 at the desired elevation.

It will be understood that telescoping cylinder 30 is in fully retracted or lowered position in bracket 13 during the iitstallation of the receptacle. With the adjusted receptacle thus in position cement is poured until it is flush with the upper surface of the receptacle.

The provision of central elevating screw 28 makes it possible to elevate telescoping cylinder 30 to any desired height above floor level and permits of its being locked in the desired position. Further, with cylinder 30 in completely retracted position screw 28 maintains the structure in lowered position with its upper surface flush with the surface of the floor and screw 28 assures its positive maintenance in retracted position.

The invention is subject to modification without departing from the spirit thereof. Equivalents may be sub-= stituted for the various elements of the combination without departing from the inventive concept. The type of contacts within cylinder 30 may be varied as desired.

Reference should be had to the appended claims for a limitation of thescope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a floor receptacle mounted on a conduit including a base, .a nipple on said base mounted in the conduit and an extension member adjustably mounted-in'said base and terminating in the floor, a telescoping cylinder closed at its outer end slidably mounted in said extension member, outlet means carried in said cylinder, rotatable screw means vertically disposed within said telescoping cylinder passing. through said outlet means and accessible for manual rotation at :the closed end of said cylinder, an in; ternally'tl'ireaded screw receptor supported on said base and receiving said screw whereby said telescoping cylinderand said outlet means may be moved with respect to said extension member to positions above the floor.

2. in a floor receptacle mounted on a conduit including a base; a nipple on said base mounted in the conduit and an extension member. adjustably screw-threaded in said base and terminating in the floor, a telescoping cylinder closed at its outer end slidably mounted in said extension member, outlet means carried in said cylinder, rotatable extension screw means carried in said telescoping cylinder and manually actuable externally thereof and a screw receptor in said base receiving said screw whereby said telescoping cylinder and said outlet means may be moved with respect to said extension member to positions above the floor.

3. In a floor receptacle mounted on a conduit including a base, a nipple on said base mounted in the conduit and an extension member adjustably mounted in said base and terminating in the floor, a telescoping cylinder having a closed outer end slidably mounted in said extension mem-,

ber, outlet means carried in said cylinder, rotatable screw means mounted for manual rotation in said closed end and vertically disposed centrally of said telescoping cylinder and a screw receptor supported by said base receiving said screw whereby said telescoping cylinder and said outlet means may be moved with respect to said extension member to positions above the floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,929 Bonnell Apr. 27, 1915 2,196,842 Strazzabosco Apr. 9, 1940 2,599,695 Christensen June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 358,148 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1931 

